Music: {allcanada} SCORING GOALS MOST IMPORTANT FOR WHITECAPS

VANCOUVER -- Joe Cannon can help make history Saturday, but the Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper has other concerns.

Cannon is slated to start for the unbeaten Whitecaps (2-0-2) when they visit the the San Jose Earthquakes (3-1-0). Vancouver has not allowed a goal this season, and is in position to establish a new record for shutouts, with five, to start a Major League Soccer campaign.

However, Cannon would rather see his team score more goals than collect another goose egg.

"Everyone brings that (streak) up," the 37-year-old said after a practice this week. "But the team that did it, I remember the goalie by the end of the year, he was out of there, so it's funny how things can quickly change.

"You can't rest on your laurels in this league and I don't think any of us are thinking about a streak or anything, because the fact of the matter is we're going into a hostile environment and we need to get points any way we can."

The New York Red Bulls set the record shutout string of four games, 421 minutes to be exact, in 2007. But after being between the posts for all five games, goalkeeper Ronald Waterrous was sent packing before the end of the season, which the Red Bulls finished with a 12-11-7 mark while allowing 45 goals against, the third-worst mark in the league that year.

Despite possessing a potent offence, the Whitecaps have only scored three goals this season. They have produced back-to-back scoreless draws against the Philadelphia Union on the road last weekend and D.C. United at home seven days earlier.

Their last goal came three weeks ago in a 1-0 win over Chivas USA in Carson, Calif., where they won on the road for the first time since entering the MLS last season.

"I know, from a purely objective standpoint, it looks like we're doing much better than last year," Cannon said. "We're getting points on the road, but I think we all understand and realize the potential we have.

"We still have a lot to work on."

Offensive cohesion is one area that still needs improvement as the Whitecaps had several near misses in Philadelphia.

"We were much more dangerous in the last game and had enough chances to win, but didn't get enough balls on target," Whitecaps coach Martin Rennie said. "If one of them was on target, it could have been a goal, so it's something we've got to improve on."

Brazilian striker Camilo led the league with 12 goals in 2011, but only has one this season. Fellow forward Eric Hassli was also among MLS goal leaders with 10 last season, but he has yet to put the ball in the back of the net.

The anticipated chemistry between Hassli and fellow French scorer Sebastien Le Toux only been seen occasionally.

Both Camilo and Hassli are expected to return this weekend after missing the Philadelphia game with injuries.

"Everybody knows, if we want to win the game, we have to score," said Hassli, who has recuperated from a sprained ankle. "But everybody, up front too, is working very hard for each other. To keep a clean sheet, it's hard, because we need to score Saturday."

Hassli scored two goals in a 2-2 draw with San Jose last July. season. But he does not expect the good memories from those goals to carry over this season.

"That was a long time ago," he said. "I just need to score, too. But I don't care who scores. ... We just need three points. It's really good for the confidence to score. So I hope we start on Saturday."

Hassli, who twisted his ankle while against D.C. United two weeks ago, said he has been working really hard, but is not overly concerned about his lack of production.

"I don't care," he said. "I just want to go to the playoffs."

In addition to establishing a new shutout record to start the season, the Whitecaps can match the total of five clean sheets they posted in all of 2011, when they finished last overall with a 6-18-10 record. But Vancouver faces a difficult test against a San Jose squad coached by former Canadian national team skipper Frank Yallop.

San Jose has not yet surrendered a goal this season, either, and enters Saturday's contest with two straight wins over Toronto and Seattle.

"It will probably be our biggest challenge to date from a paper standpoint," said Cannon.

A former MLS goalkeeper of the year, Cannon began playing in the league with San Jose. He had two stints with the Earthquakes and backstopped them to an MLS title. He said the Whitecaps must establish an identity, even if that means giving up a goal this weekend.

"It's going to happen eventually, and we need to find what we're made of," he said.

Notes: Whitecaps striker Atiba Harris will serve a one-game suspension for elbowing a Philadelphia player in the head last weekend. ... Vancouver left back Alain Rochat (knee) will miss his second straight game. He is expected to miss two more weeks. ... San Jose will play without injured defender Tim Ward (soft tissue injury) and midfielder Joey Gjertsen (knee), who played for the Whitecaps previously at a lower level. Earthquakes midfielder Sercan Guvenisik (hip flexor) is listed as doubtful, and defender Ramiro Corrales (ankle) has been classified as questionable. ... Russell Teibert and Bryce Alderson have rejoined the Whitecaps after playing for Canada's Under-23 team in the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament. ... Shea Salinas, who played for the Whitecaps last season, is expected to suit up for San Jose.